Signal device



Oct. 29, 1929.

w. s'. SCHUM SIGNAL DEVICE Fiied m. 1a, 1928 Patented Oct. 29, 1929 UNITED STATES.

WILLIAM S.

SCHUM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SIGNAL DEVICE Application filed This invention relates to directing or stop signals or indicators for use in motor vehicles, particularly those of the closed type; and the general object of the invention is to provide a new and improved signal or indicator of the character stated.

To the above and other ends which will subsequently appear, my invention consists in the features of construction, combinations of devices and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In carrying out the invention in the present instance there is provided a signalling device which is readily attachable to the frame of the vehicle door, preferably above the window therein, without requiring alteration in the structure, and which is so constructed and disposed that the window is left wholly unobstructed at all times. The signal may be conveniently operated whether the window is open or closed and the entire field of vision afforded by the window opening is clear and unaffected. V

The invention will be more particularly described in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate the preferred form of the invention and wherein Fig. l is a side elevation of a portion of a 39 motor vehicle showing the stop or indicating signal device adapted'thereto.

Fig. 2 is a plan view on an enlarged scale showing the signal device in normal position. Fig. 8 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 but tended or operative position.

Fig. 4; is a fragmentary detail view; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on a plane indicated by the section line 55 in arrows at said line.

As appears from the drawing, the vehicle selected by way of example for the application ofthe invention is fragmentarily shown and is of the closed passenger car type, it

being indicated as a whole by the numeral 10.

The door frame, designated by the numeral 11, is hinged as at 12 to the casing 13 surrounding it, said door frame as is usual be- 58 ing provided at its upper end portion with 1 showing the signal arm of the device in ex- Fig. 4 and looking in the direction of the.

August 13, 1928. Serial No. zaaiss.

a window pane let. The window frame comprises the comparatively narrow top portion 15 and side portions 16 of the door frame immediately surrounding, or partly surrounding, the window 14.

The indicating or stop signal device is as a whole attachable to and detachable from the frame 11 of the door and more specifically to the top 15 of the window frame. The signal device comprises two parts generally designated as 17 and 18 jointed or hinged together. The part 17 is stationary and comprises a member or block 19 whichmay be of wood and is attached at its inner face as by nails 20 to an angular sheet metal plate 21 having a top horizontally disposed flange 22. The flange fits over the upper face of the frame part 15 and about midway the length thereof and is suitably secured thereto as by nails 23;

If found desirable, additional securing means as a screw 24 may be employed to fix the block 19 to the frame 15. Said block 19 is formed at its right-hand side with a cut-out indicated at 25 providing upper and lower forks 26 and 27 for the knuckle portion of the hinge or joint between the two hinged parts 17and 18.

The part 18 comprises a block 28 which may be of Wood and is formed with a leftwardly projecting extension 29 which is received in the cut-out 25 but is considerably narrower than the cut-out; Preferably there is'provided a shield for the block 28, this shield being in the form of an angular metal plate 30 which fits over the top and rear sides of theblock and is suitably secured thereto. The block 28 carries a rightwardly extending sig nalarm 81, preferably of sheet metal, which is suitably secured to the rear side of the block and extends rightwardly therefrom lengthwise of the casing-15. The arm 31 is provided with a strengthening flange 32 formed integrally therewith and extending horizontally inward at right angles from the top portion thereof, the flange being adapted to fit into the crack or space indicated at 13 between the frame part 15 and the upper part of the casing 13. It will be observed that the arm 31 is narrower than the up-and-down terminates in a rightwar'd downward exten 51011 which may pass into the block 28 as shown, or, if preferred, may be out OH? and suitably fixed at its end to the detachable shield 30. A coiled spring 34L surrounds that portion of the pin 33 which is exposed between the knuckle parts 26 and 29 and has its ends hooked over said parts, said spring tending constantly to hold or maintain the signal arm innormal or inoperative position flat against the frame part 15 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Actuating means are provided for swinging the signal arm 31 outward at right angles to the normal position where it will be ell'ec tive or operative (Fig. Said actuating means comprise a cordor pull element which passes from the outside to the inside of the car. The outer end of the cord is secured to a screw eye 36 which is supported in the block 28. Thence the cord extends leftward and preferably enters a. curved guiding groove indicated at 37 formed in the front and top portion of the block 19. A

retaining wire 38 may be provided on top of the block 19 to prevent accidental displacement of the cord 35. Said cord passes inward over. the top of the signal device and the frame p: t 15, and extending through the crack or space 13 passesv downward in side thevehicle and preferably terminates in a ring 39 for convenient manipulation.

A guiding device which may be in the form of a strip or flap 40 of felt or the like,

is preferably secured at its ends as by headed pins 41 to the inside of and the cord 35 passes down between said flap'and said frame part. The friction of the guide ft) is not sufficient to interfere with the up and down manipulation ofthe cord.

It will be understood that when the cord 35 is pulled downward at its inner end it will act to overcome the spring'Seand swing the arm or swinging part 31 as shown in Fig. 3 outward to signalling position; and also vthat when the cord is released the spring will be effective to restorethe signal to normal position. v

It will be seenthat the signal or indicator device as a whole is entirely outside of the field of vision afforded the window l l, said device being wholly within the upper and lower bounds of the top part 15 of the window frame. This is true not only of thetwo hinged pa ts 17 and 18 but also of the i hinge or lznuckle itself of the signal device.

the frame part 15' The present invention provides a simple and inexpensive signalling device which may be readily applied to existing constructions of vehicles without necessitating any change therein, and when so applied contiguous to the window, leaves said window wholly unobstructed.

Various constructional changes may be effected without departing from the scope of the invention; and the signal arm 31 may of course be suitably lettered or provided with other indicia as desired.

I claim 1. An indicator signal de ice for vehicles, comprising a stationary part, a swinging part pivotally connected thereto, and means for securing said stationary part to the upper portion of a window frame of the vehicle, the entire device being clear of the window.

2. An indicator signal device for vehicles, comprising a stationary part, a swinging part pivotally connected thereto, and a plate secured to said stationary part, said plate being adapted to be secured to a window frame of the vehicle and said swinging part normally extending along and covering a porion of said. frame, said swinging part having a strengthening flange which normally is disposed in the crack between the window frame and its casing.

3. An indicator'device for vehicles, comprising two hinged parts, a hinge connecting said parts, means for securing one of said parts to the window frame of the vehicle, a spring'normally maintaining the device in inoperative position, and a pull cord for operating the device attached to one of said parts and passing into the vehicle through the crack between the window frame and its casing. V

4. An indicator device for vehicles, coinprising two hinged parts, a hinge connect: ing said parts, means for securing one of said parts to a window frame of the vehicle, a spring normally maintaining the device. in inoperative position, and means passing from the outside to the inside of the vehicle over the window frame for operating thesignal device.

5. An indicator device for vehicles, comprising two hinged parts, a hinge connecting said parts, means for securing one of said parts to a window frame of the vehicle, a spring. normally maintaining the device in inoperative position, and meanspassing from the outside to the inside of the vehicle over the window framefor operating the signal device, both the hinged parts and the hinge itself lying entirely witliin'the boundaries of the window frame, leaving the window pane entirely unobstructed. 7

WILLIAM S. SCHUM. 

